Machine for making fiber reed



June 7, 1932 G. E. NORDSTROM E'r AL 1,862,387

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED l Filed April 27, 1928 6 SheetS-Sheet lJune 7, 1932. G. NORDSTROM ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED FiledApril 27, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 w I Wm" N w Qfd |||,s,| Q 's' iq o N mf" if: -z

`lune 7, 1932.

G. E. NORDSTROM ET AL MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED Filed April 27,1928l 6 Sheets'-Sheet 3 June 7, 1932- G. E. NORDSTROM ET AL 1,362,387

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED Filed April 2v, 1928 s sneetsneet 4 June7, 1932. G. E. NORDSTROM ET AL 1,852,387

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED Filed April 27, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June7, 1932- G. E. NORDSTROM ET Al. 1,862,387

MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED Filed April 27, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAF E. NORDSTROMAND JOHN E. MILLETT, OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS, AS-

SIGNOBS TO AMERICAN FIBRE CORPORATION, 0F GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS MACHINE FOR MAKING FIBER REED Applicationled April 27,

'tion than has been heretofore customary.

In particular, we omit the preliminary foldin and unfolding of the stripof material be ore the gumming operation, and substitute therefor asimple creasing operation, which leaves the strip of paper insubstantially flat condition, suitable for gumming or gluing Withoutunfolding.

Important features of our invention relates to the provision of animproved creasing mechanism and to the provision of an improved andsimplified folding device.

Our invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings in which Fig.1 is a partial side elevation of our improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a detail plan View, looking in the direction of the arrow 2 inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view, taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation of the right hand orwinding end ofour improved machine;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of certain driving mechanism, looking in thedirection of the arrow 5 in Fig. 4;

Fi 5 is a sectional side elevation of parts of said driving mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of certain parts, looking in the directionofthe arrow 6 in Fig. 4;

ig, 7 is a side elevation of the driving 1928. Serial No. 273,413.

mechanism for the pressing rolls and winding reels;

F ig. 8 is a plan view of the creasing mechamsm;

Fig. 9 is a sectional end elevation thereof, taken along the line 9 9 ofFig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged plan view of one of the paper guides;

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation thereof, taken along the line 11-11 inFig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view, partly iii section, showing the operationof the creasing mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a short portion of the creased paper strip;

Fig. 14: is a sectional View thereof, taken yalong the line 14--14 in Fi13;

Fig. 15 is a plan view o the gumming or gluing mechanism;

Fi 16 is a sectional side elevation thereof, ta en along the line 16--16in Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a. sectional end elevation thereof, taken along the line17-17 in Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a plan View of the folding and pressing mechanism, with thepresser rolls omitted;

Fig. 19 is a detail side elevation of the driving mechanism for thelower presser roll, looking in the direction of the arrow 19 in Fig: 18;

ig. 20 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of portions of thefolding and pressing mechanism;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged plan view of one of the folding devices;

Fig. 22 is a side elevation thereof; and

Figs. 23 and 24 are transverse sectional elevations, taken alon the line28--23 in Fig. 22 and 24-24 in ig. 21 respectively.

Referring to the drawings, our improved fiber reed machine comprises afeed or supply mechanism A, a creasing mechanism B, a gumming or gluingmechanism C Fig. 1), a folding and pressing mechanism (Fig. 4), and awinding mechanism E. A narrow strip of strong paper or similar materialis drawn from the supply mechanism A through the creasing mechanism B,after which it is coated with gum or glue in the mechanism C, is foldedto accurate width and thereafter pressed by the mechanism D and is woundon a suitable spool or reel by the mechanism E. The operation iscontinuous and may be performed ra idly and economically.

The mac ine distin uishes in method of operation from the mac ine shownin the patent of.Baldwin and Wood No. 1,680,358, issued August 14, 1928,by substituting for the preliminary folding and unfolding mechanism acreasing mecha-nism which marks the lines of fold in the paper stri butreceives and delivers the material in su stantially flat conditionsuitable for immediate coating by the gluing mechanism.

Thedifferent parts of Athe machine will now be described in their orderof operation.

Supply mechanism l The strips of paper S from which the liber reed ismanufactured are supplied to the machine in the form of large narrowrolls 30 (Figs. 1 and 2), a plurality of which are mounted side b sidein a supporting frame or casing 31. ach roll is su ported by a separateshaft or member 32 `ig. 3), rotatable in open sided bearings 33 in theframe or casing 31 or mounted on the intermediate partitions thereof.With this construction, any roll 30 may be readily removed and replacedwithout disturbing the other rolls in the casing 31. It will be notedthat each roll rotates independently of all of the other rolls and maybe started or stopped without reference thereto.

Ureasz'ng mecha/naam,

The creasing mechanism B is designed to receive the fiat liber strip andto mark or score the lines of fold in the liber strip as it is drawntherethrough. The creasing mechanism is best shown in Figs. 8 to 14 andcomprises three creasing units driven by parallel lower shafts 40, 41and 42. Each creasing unit acts on two adjacent strips of paper and maybe started or stopped independently,as will be hereinafter described.

As each strip of paper S approaches one of the creasing units, it isdrawn through a guide, preferably comprising a block 45 (Fig. 11) havinga groove or recess 46 at its upper surface covered by a plate 47. One ofthese guides 45 is provided for each of the several paper strips, thegroove 46 being of substantially the width of the paper strip.

Each creasing unit comprises a pair of rolls 48 and 49 (Figs. 9 and 12).Each lower roll 48 is mounted on one of the driven shafts 40, 41 or 42,previously described. Each upper roll 49 is mounted on a shaft 50connected by ears 51 and 52 to the corresponding lower riven shaft 40,41 or 42.

Each upper roll 49 is provided with a pair of preferably rectan ulargrooves 54, adapted to loosely receive anges or ribs 55 on the lowerrolls 48. The operative relation of 1,sea,se7

the ribs 55 and grooves 54 is best seen in Fig. 12, and the e'ect on apaper stri drawn between these rolls is illustrated in i s. 13 and 14,from which it will appear that t e middle ortion of the strip isdlsplaced upwardly by orming parallel creases or bends in the paperstrip, but without offsetting the material suiiiciently from itsoriginal plane to prevent satisfactory gluing or gumming thereof.

The creasing of the entire number of paper strips might be done b asingle pair of creasing rolls, but the pro uction of the machine ismaterially increased by providing separate rolls for every pair ofstrips, thus ermitting the reater portion of the mac ine to continue 1noperation while a sin le pair of rolls is stopped for repair or repenishment of a paper strip.

the paper strips approach the creasing rolls, they are accurately guidedand positioned by the guide blocks 45, so that the creases in the paperstrips are formed in accurately located positions, suitable forproducing a fiber reed of the desired width.

Gamm/ng or gluingmeclzam'sm As the paper strips S leave the creasingmechanism they enter the gumming or gluing mechanism which will now bedescribed and is best shown in Figs. 15 to 17.

The gluing mechanism comprises a tank or pan mounted on a suitablesupport and as the surface of the drum moves out of the tank 60.

' The paper strips S are drawn over the drum 62 and are depressed byguide members 65, so that they will be in close contact with the drum asthey pass thercover. The driving mechanism is so arranged that thesurface of the drum travels somewhat faster than the paper strips, thusproviding a wiping action by which the paper is thoroughly andeffectively coated with gum or glue. A second scraper 66 is provided forremoving surplus glue from the paper strips as they leave the gummingmechanism C.

Lifting devices are provided, one for each pair of paper strips S. Eachlifting device comprises a U-shaped wire 69 mounted in a cross shaft 70supported in suitable bearings 71 and each having a handle 72. Any oneof these handles may be actuated to swing its wine 69 under the twoassociated paper strips S, thus raising the strips high enough so thatthey will not be engaged by the surface of the drum 62. It is desirableto thus raise and support the paper strips whenever the operation of themachine 1s interrupted or discontinued.

The glue tank 60 is preferably provided with an extension 74 (Pi 15)from which the glue may be drawn o through a pipe 75 by opening a valve76 as desired.

Folding and pressing mechanism The folding and pressing mechanism isbest shown in Figs. 18 to 24. Each folding device comprises a plate 80having a first folding member 81 and a second folding member 82successively mounted thereon. Y As the paper strip S leaves the gluingmechanism and approaches the folding mechanism, it is given a half turnto bring the gummed surface to the upper side as it approaches thefolding mechanism. (lne edge of the paper strip engages a guide pin 83and the other edge is engaged and turned about one of the lines ofcrease by undercut part of the folding member 81, the outline of whichis best shown in Fig. 23. The paper at this point occupies substantiallythe position indicated in said Fig. 23, With one fold of the paperpartially completed. The half-turn of the paper facilitates this firstfolding operation.

The paper then approaches the second folding operation and presents thepaper strip in position for the second or final fold, the parts beingthen in the position indicated in Fig. 24. As the strips leave thesecond folding member 82, it is positioned by a guide nin 86 and isdrawn out in closely folded condition through a relatively narrowopening 87.

It will be noted that there are no moving parts in my improved foldingmechanism and that all parts are readily accessible for cleaning. As thepaper leaves the second folding member 82 through the opening 87 eachgummed and folded strip is received between a grooved driven roll 90 anda narrow springpressed roll 91, the latter roll serving to force thefolded strip into one of the grooves of the member 90 and applyingpressure to the strip to complete the permanently folded form thereof.

It will be noted that pressure is applied only at the time the strip isin the groove of the lower roll 90, and that the pressure applied atthis point causes the gummed strip to Hatten out and fill the groove,thus providing a product of accurate and uniform width.

Str1pper plates 93 are provided to detach the strips S from the roll 90,if the paper should adhere thereto. Reference to Fig. 18 will show thata single driving rollv 90 is provided, having a plurality of grooves 94spaced axially along the surface of the roll, while a separate foldingmember is provided for each paper stri The roll 90is mounted on adriving shaft 95, rotated at predetermined speed by driving mechanism tobe descrlbed. i

Winding mechanism The paper strips, after being glued, folded andpressed, are delivered to the winding mechanism E which comprises spoolsor reels 100, mounted on upright shafts 101 and frictionally driventhereby, the shafts rotating at speeds in excess of the desired speed ofthe drums or reels.

Guide members 102 are mounted on a traverse bar 103, which is providedwith a rack 104 engaged by a pinion 105 on a shaft 106 having a manglegear 107 (Fig. 5) mounted thereon. The gear 107 is rotated alternatelyin opposite directions by a pinion 108 on a shaft 109 having a wormwheel 110 at its opposite end, engaged and rotated by a worm 111.Driving connections for the worm wheel 111 will be hereinafterdescribed.

As the worm rotates, the shaft 109 also rotates, causing alternaterotational movements of the mangle gear 107 and pinion 105 which engagesthe rack 104. The traverse bar 103 is thus raised and lowered adjacentthe surface of the drums or reels 100. The winding mechanism itselfforms no part of our present invention and for a more com letedescription thereof, reference is ma e to the patent of Baldwin and Woodabove referred to.

Dm'fv/ng mechanism We will now briefly describe the driving mechanismand connections by which the severa-l parts of our improved machine arecaused to o eratein desired relation.

A motor (Fig. 1) is mounted in the base of the machine and is providedwith a pinion 120 engaging a gear 121 (Fig. 4) on a. main drive shaft122. Three pulleys 124, 125 and 126 are loosely mounted on the mainshaft 122 and are provided with clutches 127 controlled by handles 128,129 and 130 respective y.

The pulley 124 is connected by a. belt 131 to a pulley 132 on a shaft133 which is thus rotated in unison with the shaft 122 when the handle128 is moved to throw in the corresponding clutch 127.

The pulley 125 is correspondingly connected by a belt 134 to a pulley135 to a second shaft 136, and the pulley 126 is connected by a belt 137and pulley 138 to a third shaft 139.

The shaft 133 (Fig. 7) is connected bv bevel gears 140 to an uprightshaft 141 which in turn is connected by bevel gears 142 (Figs. 8 and 9)to the lower creasing roll shaft 42. The shaft 136 is similarlyconnected by bevel gears 143, upright shaft 144 and bevel gears 145 tothe lower creasing roll shaft 41 (Fig. 1), and the third shaft 139 isconnected b v bevel gears 146, upright shaft 147 and bevel gears 148 tothe lower creasing roll shaft 40 (Fig. 1).

The shaft 133 (Fig. 7) is also provided with bevel gears 150, engagingcorresponding bevel gears 151 atthe lower ends of two of the windinshafts 101 previously described. It-will In: noted that the shaft 133 isshown cut away in Fig. 7 and that only one of the winding connections isshown. Bevel gears 190 (Fig. 4) connect the main shaft 122 with theshaft 191 on which the worm 111 is mounted and thus provide a drive forthe traverse mechanism.

The shaft 136 is connected by geears 152 to ashaft 153 having bevels 154engaging bevels 155 on the lower ends of other corresponding windingshafts 101. The shaft 139 is connected by s rockets 157 and a. chain 158to a shaft 159 havmg bevel gears 160 engaging similar gears 161 at thelower ends of a third pair of winding shafts 101.

With these connections, it will be seen that any desired pair ofcreasing rolls may be separately started or stopped and it is thuspossible to stop operations on one pair of paper strips While themachine continues to operate on the remaining pairs of strips, thuslargely increasing the output.

It is not found necessary to sub-divide the pressing roll 90, as each ofthe upper presser rolls 91 is pressed downward by al spring 165 (Fig. 6)and the support 166 for each roll is provided with a throw-ofi' handle167 by which it may be lifted and held out of contact with the presserroll when so desired.

The shaft 95 of the presser roll 90 (Figs. 18 and 19) is connected bybevel gears 170 and 171 to an intermediate shaft 172 (Fig. 4) which inturn is connected by bevel gears 173 to the-main shaft 122 by which thepresser roll is thus continuously rotated.

A separate motor R (Fig. 1) is provided for driving the gumming orgluing drum 62.

.The motor R is connected by a belt 180 (Fig. 15) to a pulley 181 on anintermediate shaft 182 having a small pulley 183 connected by a secondbelt 184 to a large pulley 185 on the shaft which supports the drum 62.The drum is thus continuously rotated at a speed much less than that ofthe motor R but providing a surface speed greater than the rate oftravel of the strips S, as previously described.

Having described the construction of my improved machine, the method ofoperation will be apparent. After the machine is threaded up, theoperater moves the handles 128, 129 and 130 to start the different sec-.tions of the machine and the paper strips are then drawn continuouslythrough the machine, being first creased but left in relatively flatconditon and being thereafter glued, inverted, folded, pressed, andAfinally being wound up on the reels 100.

Should one of the strips break, it is not necessary to stop the wholemachine, but is merely necessary to release the clutch 127 correspondingto the pair of strips which includes the broken strip. The remainingparts of the machine continue in operation as usual while re airs arebeing made on the broken strip.- uring the repairs, the correspondingthrow offI handles 167 (Fig. 4) will be swung up to lift the upperpresser rolls awa from the lower and driven presser roll.

Hiiving thus made clear the construction and operation of our improvedmachine, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosedotherwise than set forth in the claims, but what we claim is 1. In afiber reed machine, having means to supply a fiber strip, means toprepare said strip for subsequent gluing and folding, the combinationwith a folding device comprising an undercut stationary member effectiveto form a first fold in a lued fiber strip, and a second stationary memer spaced longitudinally from said first member and effective to form asecond fold in said fiber strip, said second folding member having aguide finger depending therefrom and effective to close the first foldas it approaches folding position in said second member.

2. In a fiber reed machine, a plurality of scoring rolls mounted inpairs on adjacent shafts, each pair of rolls being effective to scoretwo parallel strips of fiber, and means to start and stop each pair ofrolls independently of the other rolls.

3. In a fiber reed machine, means to supply a plurality of fiber stripsto said machine, scoring devices, gluing mechanism, folding and pressingmechanism, and devices to wind said strips, said gluing, folding andpressing mechanisms being operated continuously, means to drive saidscoring devices and said Winding devices in associated sections, andmeans to start and stop each associated section independently.

4. In a fiber reed machine, means to supply a plurality of fiber strips,a scoring device for each pair of strips, means to start and stop eachscoring device independently, a gluing drum, means to rotate said drum.and se arate means to raise each pair of strips fiom said drum when thecorresponding scoring device is stopped.

5. In 'a fiber reed machine, the combination of a pluralit effectiverespective y to supply a fiber strip, to score said strip, to applyadhesive to a surface of said strip, t0 fold said strip into severalplies, to press said plies together, and to wind up the resultantlaminated stri said scoring station comprising a pair of agjacentrollers between which the strip passes, one of said rollers beinggrooved and the other of said rollers being provided with a matingtongue in said groove whereby the strip is provided with an indentedportion of substantial width providing a longitudinally disposed foldline of broken down fibers at each side of the indentation.

of consecutive stations l 6. In a liber reed machine, the combination ofa pluralit of consecutive stations effective respective y to supply afiber strip, to score said strip, to appl adhesive to a surface of saidstrip, to fol said strip into several plies, to press said pliestogether, and to wind up the resultant laminated strip, means to operatethe scoring devices and the winding devices in associated sections, andmeans to start and stop each associated section independently.

7. In a fiber reed machine, means to apply glue to the underside of astrip of `fiber and means to form a three-ply folded reed therefrom,said folding means comprising members positioned to receive the stripin, inverted position after application of the glue thereto and shapedto fold marginal portions of the strip downwardly and inwardly upon acentral portion of the stri with the glued surface of the strip inturne8. In a fiber reed machine, the combination of a plurality ofconsecutive mechanisms effective to treat a strip of fiber comprisingmeans to feed a flat strip of fiber through said machine, means toproduce parallel scored lines longitudinally thereof While retainingsaid strip substantially flat and unfolded, comprising mechanismeffective to slightly displace a longitudinal central section ofsubstantial width from the main plane of the strip, thereby producingscored lines of broken down fibers along the edges of said displacedsection.

9. In a fiber reed machine, mechanism for performing a successive seriesof operations comprising means to feed a flat strip of fiber to saidmachine, means to score said fiber strip in parallel lineslongitudinally thereof, and substantially equidistant from each otherand from the edges of the strip, while retaining said stripsubstantially fiat and unfolded, and means to apply glue to one surfaceof the strip, to fold the edge portions thereof inwardly intooverlapping relation to each other. and to press said edge portions intoengagement with the body of the strip and with each other.

10. In a fiber reed machine, mechanism for performing a successiveseries of operations comprising means to feed a flat strip of fiber tosaid machine, means to score said fiber strip in parallel lineslongitudinally thereof, while retaining said strip substantially flatand unfolded, and means to apply glue to one surface of the strip. andto fold the edge portions thereof inwardly into overlapping engagementwith each other and with the body of the strip.

l1. In a fiber reed machine, the combination. in consecutive operativerelation. of means to supply a fiber strip with means to prepare saidstrip comprising a scoring mechanism having a pair of driven rolls, oneof which is provided with an annular groove and the other with anannular rib pro'ecting into said groove but spaced from the ottom andside edges thereof, means to a ply an adhesive to one surface of thestrlp, and means to fold edge portions of said strip inwardly intooverlapping relation to each other thereb to form a multi-ply fiberstrip.

12. In a ber reed machine, the combination, in consecutive operativerelation, of means to supply a fiber strip with nieans to prepare saidstrip comprising a scoring mechanism having a air of driven rolls, oneof which is provide with an annular groove and the other with an annularrib projecting into said groove but spaced from the bottom and sideedges thereof, said rolls having cylindrical portions at each side ofsaid groove and rib rotatable in closely adjacent positions, thereby tomaintain the strip in substantially flat and unfolded condition, meansto apply an adhesive to one surface of the strip, and means to fold edgeportions of said strip inwardly into overlapping relation to each otherthereby to form a multi-ply liber strip.

13. In a fiber reed machine, the combination of a plurality ofconsecutively arranged stations effective respectively to supply a fiberstrip, to score said strip, to a pl adhesive to a surface of said strip,to ibl said strip into several plies, to press said plies intoengagement with each other and with the central portions of said strip,and to Wind up the resultant laminated strip, said folding stationcomprising means to bend one margin of the strip inwardly over thecentral portion of the strip, and means to bend the other margininwardly and overlapping said first margin, thereby to produce a stripof threeply structure throughout substantially its full width.

14. In a liber reed machine, the combination of a plurality ofconsecutively arranged stations effective respectively to supply a fiberstrip, to score said strip, to apply adhesive to a surface of saidstrip, to fold said strip into several plies, to press said plies intoengagement with each other and with the central portion of said strip,and to wind up the resultant laminated strip, said folding stationcomprising means to bend one margin of the strip inwardly over thecentral portion of the strip and means to bend the other margin inwardlyand overlapping said first margin, and said pressing station comprisingmeans to press sald margins into engagement with the body of the stripand with each other thereby to produce a strip of three-ply structurethroughout substantially its full width.

15. In a fiber reed machine, means to feed a strip of fiber, means tobreak down the fibers along spaced parallel lines longitudinally of thestrip, means to apply glue to the underside of said strip, and means toform a threeply folded reed therefrom, said folding means comprisingmembers positioned to receive the 6 I megas? stri in inverted positionafter allplication of t e glue thereto and shaped to fo mar al portionsof the strip downwardly an inwardl upon a central ortion of the strip 5and a. on said broken own lines with the glued sur ace of the stripinturned.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto axed our signatures.

GUSTAF E. NORDSTROM.

10 JOHN E. MILLETT.

